SCARCE MARTIALLY MARKED HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

SCARCE MARTIALLY MARKED HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 3656. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Standard Henry rifle with full oct bbl, arched German silver front sight & 900 yard 2nd type ladder rear sight, with integral magazine tube. Mounted with uncheckered, nicely figured, straight grain American walnut buttstock & crescent brass buttplate with trap & first type rnd heel. SN was observed in the usual place on top bbl flat; between the rear sight and receiver, left side of lower tang under the wood, inside top tang channel of butt stock and inside toe of the buttplate. Bbl has assembly number “106” under rotating the sleeve with the matching assembly number on rear face of rotating sleeve. Right side of butt stock has outline of a cartouche on the wrist and inspector initials “HC” on right front flat of receiver with corresponding small “C” and “CGC” inspector initials on right bbl flat at receiver. The right heel of the buttplate and correspondingly on right heel of butt stock are stamped with tiny “C” inspector initials. The two buttplate screws are marked with the entire SN while the three wrist screws are unmarked but are orig Henry screws. According to the book The Historic Henry Rifle, Wiley Sword, this rifle was produced in December of 1863, one of 250 produced that month. It undoubtedly was issued to a Union trooper who may have been a member of the 3rd U.S. Veterans Volunteers. Members of this unit whose orig term of service had expired and who re-enlisted into this unit, as part of their enlistment bonus, were allowed to retain their Henry rifle and handgun up on expiration of that term of service. While the 3rd Veteran Volunteers was composed primarily of former combat veterans, their duties primarily consisted of guard duty around Washington D.C. and provost duty at nearby postings. It is believed they only were involved in one small skirmish late in the war. Given this limited combat duty, by 1865 these rifles were likely still in high orig condition but after several decades of use as hunting & self defense arms, frequently on the western frontier with little or no maintenance they are rarely found in orig configuration with much orig finish. CONDITION: Very good, all matching including butt stock, buttplate, bbl & loading swivel. Bbl & magazine tube retain a smooth cleaned light silver/brown patina with freckles of fine pitting on left side and over the top flats. Frame & sideplates retain good edges with minor nicks & scratches without any hammer marks on sideplates and overall retains a wonderful medium to dark mustard patina. Buttplate has a matching patina. Stock is sound having been lightly cleaned with a few scattered light nicks & scratches and retains most of a new oil finish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with moderate pitting and a light ring about 6″ from muzzle. 4-41305 JR103 (20,000-30,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2020	$26,450.00	SCARCE MARTIALLY MARKED HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 3656. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Standard Henry rifle with full oct bbl, arched German silver front sight & 900 yard 2nd type ladder rear sight, with integral magazine tube. Mounted with uncheckered, nicely figured, straight grain American walnut buttstock & crescent brass buttplate with trap & first type rnd heel. SN was observed in the usual place on top bbl flat; between the rear sight and receiver, left side of lower tang under the wood, inside top tang channel of butt stock and inside toe of the buttplate. Bbl has assembly number “106” under rotating the sleeve with the matching assembly number on rear face of rotating sleeve. Right side of butt stock has outline of a cartouche on the wrist and inspector initials “HC” on right front flat of receiver with corresponding small “C” and “CGC” inspector initials on right bbl flat at receiver. The right heel of the buttplate and correspondingly on right heel of butt stock are stamped with tiny “C” inspector initials. The two buttplate screws are marked with the entire SN while the three wrist screws are unmarked but are orig Henry screws. According to the book The Historic Henry Rifle, Wiley Sword, this rifle was produced in December of 1863, one of 250 produced that month. It undoubtedly was issued to a Union trooper who may have been a member of the 3rd U.S. Veterans Volunteers. Members of this unit whose orig term of service had expired and who re-enlisted into this unit, as part of their enlistment bonus, were allowed to retain their Henry rifle and handgun up on expiration of that term of service. While the 3rd Veteran Volunteers was composed primarily of former combat veterans, their duties primarily consisted of guard duty around Washington D.C. and provost duty at nearby postings. It is believed they only were involved in one small skirmish late in the war. Given this limited combat duty, by 1865 these rifles were likely still in high orig condition but after several decades of use as hunting & self defense arms, frequently on the western frontier with little or no maintenance they are rarely found in orig configuration with much orig finish. CONDITION: Very good, all matching including butt stock, buttplate, bbl & loading swivel. Bbl & magazine tube retain a smooth cleaned light silver/brown patina with freckles of fine pitting on left side and over the top flats. Frame & sideplates retain good edges with minor nicks & scratches without any hammer marks on sideplates and overall retains a wonderful medium to dark mustard patina. Buttplate has a matching patina. Stock is sound having been lightly cleaned with a few scattered light nicks & scratches and retains most of a new oil finish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with moderate pitting and a light ring about 6″ from muzzle. 4-41305 JR103 (20,000-30,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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